Laptops are a great way to get work done on the go, but it’s important that your new laptop is powerful enough for what you need. In this article, we’ll help you find out which laptops make sense under $1200!
The “best laptops under $1200 dollars 2021” is a list of the best laptops that are available for purchase in the market. The list includes popular brands such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo.
High-End Best Value Laptops Under $1200
The growth of gaming laptops is decreasing the gap between them and desktop PCs.
Since the GPU maker debuted its Geforce 1000 series for laptops, the performance gap between mobile and desktop graphics chips based on the graphics chipset has rarely been worth noting.
The performance values are sometimes equivalent to desktop versions (particularly in the 1000 generation), making the purchase of a gaming laptop quite appealing – if money is not a problem.
This post focuses only on the best laptops around $1200.
Nvidia has now delivered its “RTX processing cores,” which substantially speed real-time ray tracing, to the market for mobile PCs with the Geforce 2000 series.
However, our comparative test of the top models on our best list demonstrates that a new generation does not necessarily have to be much better than its predecessor.
If you’re searching for a traditional laptop, we suggest checking out our comprehensive laptop comparison.
We’ve summed up our recommendations for gaming laptops below, and we’ll go through them in further depth in the section below for the best laptops under $1200.
Test Results: High-End Best Value Laptops Under $1200
Acer Helios 300 Predator comes in first place.
- SSD (512 GB)
- System performance is excellent.
- For a 17-inch gaming laptop, the battery life is adequate.
- The keyboard is rather comfy.
- There is just one 2.5-inch slot accessible.
Under $1200, the best performing laptop
A notebook is traditionally more of a workhorse for users who want or need to work on a PC when not at home or at a fixed location.
However, many gamers do not want or cannot (only) depend on a fixed PC and, as a result, rely on the performance of a laptop when it comes to computer games.
Because of the intricate technologies involved, it is, of course, impossible to fit gaming electronics inside a laptop chassis.
In comparison to a comparable powerful desktop PC, the premium is generally rather low.
However, gaming notebooks are very popular, and there are strong laptops that are cobbled together to meet gamer’s needs, such as the Predator Helios 300 (PH317-53-757Z) with a 17.3-inch display (with a refresh rate of 144 Hertz), Intel Core i7-9750H processor, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, which we tested.
We had previously reviewed one of the predecessors, the Predator Helios 300, in September 2018. (PH317-52-51M6 with Core i5-8300H processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card).
As a result, our current test model is much more powerful and ranks towards the top of the gaming predator rankings within the current Predator Helios 300 notebook series model selection, making it a viable contender for our best laptops under 1200 Dollar test.
In average, entry costs about 900 dollars (15.6 inch, Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphic card), with over 20 versions available in the market.
Depending on the version, nine of these devices have the model number PH317-53 and have an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, RTX 2060 graphics card, or (as in our test model PH317-52-757Z) an RTX 2070 graphics card.
Predator Helios 300
The PH317-53-757Z laptop model from our review is now unavailable, however similarly equipped Predator Helios 300 variations (also 17.3 inch, Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphic card) start at about 1900 dollars.
By the way, since Acer has given us with a raffle copy, you may be able to obtain a copy of the Predator Helios 300 (PH317-53-757Z) as part of our raffle — more on that at the conclusion of the post.
But first, we’ll go through our practical test and the notebook’s technical specifications, which we’ll call to as the Predator Helios 300 from now on owing to its easier readability.
The Intel Core i7-9750H processor is a powerful Intel CPU that serves as a foundation.
The CPU in our test model of the Predator Helios 300 series is provided by Intel – the Californians are clearly the top dog in the notebook segment and also offer a good selection of processors that, on the one hand, deliver performance with low power consumption at a low clock rate, but can also be clocked very high if required.
This is likewise true of the Intel Core i7-9750H CPU found in our Acer Predator laptop.
The Coffee Lake H CPU, which is made in 14 nanometers and has six cores, can handle 12 threads owing to Hyperthreading, making it the finest laptop under $1200.
It operates at a frequency of 2.6 to 4.5 gigahertz, depending on the application.
It has a TDP of 45 watts, thanks to its 12 megabytes of cache memory and a memory connector for DDR4-2666 RAM.
The TPD does not perfectly match the power need, but it does serve as a guide to the maximum waste heat energy that can be dissipated.
The TDP, on the other hand, does indicate variances in power usage – for example:
Intel’s TDP for a desktop CPU identical to the Core i7-8700 processor (six cores, 12 threads, 3.2 to 3.6 gigahertz) is 65 watts.
However, an Intel Core i7-9750H CPU is an excellent foundation for gaming in any case, and streamers or other users who have other applications running in the background may benefit from the numerous threads.
Above all, the graphics card is critical for ultimate performance; we’ll look at this and other technical facts on the following page.
Other characteristics of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card
In the Predator Helios 300, the Intel CPU is accompanied by an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card with 8GB video RAM.
This is a mobile-optimized GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q graphics card that is just marginally inferior than the desktop version of the GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card.
It has somewhat lower performance than the desktop version, but it uses less electricity and can be cooled more easily.
Furthermore, two overclocking settings are accessible for games on the fly using Acer’s tool, ensuring that the graphics card runs better than in regular mode and is genuinely deserving of the title of best laptop under 1200 dollars.
In addition, there is 16 GB of RAM and a 1000 GB SSD for storage.
The SSD is a high-performance M.2 NVMe SSD. The laptop comes with Windows 10 Home pre-installed.
The Predator Helios 300 features a 17.3-inch (44-centimeter) diagonal display with a 144-hertz refresh rate.
Even bright colors and contrasts are no issue with the IPS panel.
Processing and the outside
The Predator Helios 300’s construction is excellent, as one would expect from the best laptop under 1200 dollars.
There are no carvers in the fitting, yet the material has a fine design thanks to its light structure.
The whole cover is constructed of aluminum. A thin metal frame surrounds the keyboard plane.
The Predator logo shines in blue on the back of the display during operation, and the keyboard is also lighted in blue out of the box, although this can be changed through software, which we’ll go over in more depth below.
The keys on the RGB keyboard look fantastic and provide wonderful typing feel.
The WASD and arrow keys have a stronger glow to them.
The touchpad is positioned centrally with reference to the letter keys, however it is offset to the left overall due to the number pad region.
The touchpad space is maintained quite spacious, with the actual keys taking up just about half of the keyboard area’s depth – the big, free area helps to cool the hardware by allowing it to vent heat to the surroundings.
If you want to upgrade the notebook with a 2.5 inch hard disk, or a 2.5 inch SSD, you can do so – a suitable adapter is included with the notebook, and zwae includes a written note that if you do the upgrade yourself rather than through an Acer authorized service, there may be issues in the event of a warranty claim, which is to be expected for the best laptop under 1200 Dollar.
Everyday existence is put to the test.
Let’s have a look at how the notebook works in real life before we get into the games.
The first setup takes 15 to 20 minutes, followed by optional Windows and driver upgrades, the length of which is determined by the number of new updates available since the laptop was manufactured.
We shut down the laptop entirely after installing all updates, as well as various tools, gaming clients, and games, to test a “cold start.”
We noted the quick M.2 SSD here since we were welcomed by the Windows start screen in less than 10 seconds, when we typed the user password.
We interpret ventilation as a mild hissing sound while in office mode, or even when browsing or watching movies.
Despite the flat keys, the typing experience of the RGB keyboard is extremely pleasant, since they don’t look overly soft, but have a certain resistance that doesn’t grow tired with time.
There is a game software pre-installed, as well as an app for customizing the RGB keyboard’s LED illumination, which has its own key in the number pad region.
You may modify the color of the keyboard lighting, brighten certain regions of the keyboard, and tweak other colors or color effects in the program.
The gaming section of the software is significant since it allows you to select how much throttle the graphics card should be able to deliver, as well as change the ventilation independently under a menu item.
We put the Predator Helios 300 to the test in ordinary situations, including writing sections of this article on it while using battery power and without dimming the display to save energy:
The battery has around 10% remaining battery life after nearly three hours of working with Word and browsing the Internet, demonstrating the power of the best laptop under 1200 Dollar.
Those who need to use the laptop on the go will be able to get a good battery life out of a gaming notebook with a wide display.
When working or playing, the colors are also rich and contrasty thanks to the IPS display.
Gaming for practice and performance evaluation
Let’s concentrate on what matters most to our publication: gaming performance and how the laptop performs in games.
We installed and tested five popular and current gaming titles on the laptop for this purpose:
Battlefield V, Need for Speed: Heat, Star Wars: Fallen Order, and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 are among the most anticipated games of the year.
We ran our game testing using the default settings of the previously mentioned Acer program, but we also boosted the performance of one game (Need for Speed: Heat) to “faster” to see how much it improved.
If necessary, the ventilation may be controlled separately.
For the best laptop under 1200 Dollar, it already delivers a lot of gas on the regular setting, which isn’t unexpected given the notebook’s capability.
The graphic card is also kept at a maximum temperature of 75 degrees by the ventilation – if you allow for a higher temperature, you may of course play with a quieter ventilation.
Because the graphics card has significantly less “air” surrounding it than a desktop PC, and the heat sinks are therefore much smaller, the ventilation in laptops with powerful graphics cards is never very silent while gaming.
Even with the display closed, a gaming laptop like the Predator Helios 300 is thinner than a standard desktop graphics card:
When closed, our test laptop is 1 inch tall, and the hardware area is around 2.0 cm tall — a desktop version of the GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, or even an RTX 2060 graphics card, would be closer to four centimeters tall.
However, here are the results of our tests, in which we examined the five games described above at their original resolution (1920 by 1080 pixels, Full-HD) and with the highest default setting available.
In addition, we ran medium detail tests on Battlefield V (96 FPS, up 55%) and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (107 FPS, up 64%). We also put Need for Speed: Most Wanted through its paces.
The graphic card’s clock rate was roughly 9 to 10% higher than in regular mode while using the Acer tool option “faster.” As a result, we were able to obtain a comparable rise in FPS, specifically a solid 80 FPS, a gain of over 11%.
Even for the best laptop under 1200 dollars, the fan does crank up higher than in the regular setting, which is to be anticipated.
Conclusion: The finest performance for a laptop around $1200.
The Predator Helios 300 (PH317-53-757Z) is a powerful gaming laptop that masters contemporary games at high detail with over 60 frames per second.
Outside of gaming, the smartphone creates a solid impression. We don’t have an exact pricing yet, but comparable Predator Helios 300 versions start at about 1100 dollars, as previously indicated.
If you want a current Core i7 CPU with 12 threads, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, 16GB RAM, and a fast M.2 SSD with a terabyte of memory, you won’t find a cheaper 17.3-inch laptop right now.
If you’re searching for a gaming laptop with the aforementioned technological specs, the Predator Helios 300 (PH317-53-757Z) is a great option.
It is without a doubt the greatest laptop under $1200 available right now.
Asus ROG Strix G is ranked second.
- Options for good maintenance and repair
- RGB lighting that is eye-catching
- Exceptional CPU performance
- Runs both old and new games flawlessly.
The second best laptop under 1200 dollars has the finest price-performance ratio.
After just half a year, ASUS releases the Asus ROG Strix G, the successor to the Strix Scar II.
The updated model has even more RGB lights as well as a Keystone NFC key.
You may utilize Shadow Drive and connect the ASUS software with it.
Even in turbo mode, the cooling system is efficient, and the internal speakers are powerful.
There’s also plenty of electricity. The gaming laptop, on the other hand, isn’t just a step forward. In our tests, it came in second place for the best laptop under $1200.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar II was just put to the test at the start of 2019.
It was one of the first gaming laptops featuring an NVIDIA RTX graphics card at the time.
The Scar II has a lot of connections, superb craftsmanship, and, of course, a lot of RTX performance.
The whimsical game design, on the other hand, was a matter of taste for me and a little too perplexing.
Furthermore, the Strix Scar II has no upgrade possibilities.
Meanwhile, the competition hasn’t slept, but has been busily releasing gaming laptops into the market.
Now, the Asus ROG Strix G is ready to reinforce its market position, and it is excellent enough to come second in the best laptops under $1200 Dollar category. The ROG Strix G comes with a new Core i7-9750H processor, an RTX 2070 graphics card, and 16 GB of RAM.
In contrast to the Scar II, ASUS seems to have heard my powerful voice in the technological test landscape and updated the design. The current price is 1200 dollars.
Apart from the tested equipment, the ROG Strix G is also available with 8 GB RAM and without the 1 TB HDD – and therefore at a current price of $300.
A 15.6-inch display is also available for the gaming laptop. The six-core Core i7-9750H and the eight-core Core i9-9880H processors are available, as well as a 120 Hz or 240 Hz HDD display.
All variants come with the RTX 2070 graphics card and 16 GB of RAM. Incredible equipment when compared to the finest laptops around $1200.
ASUS Keystone is included in the standard scope of supply.
The ROG Strix G’s delivery scope is precisely defined.
The power cable, the power supply unit, some papers, and the keystone with a carabiner pendant are all included in the packing, in addition to the notebook.
As a result, students may always wear the component on their belt and flaunt their colors at school if they want to.
In the Software chapter, we’ll go through precisely what the Keystone performs.
Plastic bags are used to package the notebook and accessories.
However, since there aren’t many attachments, the plastic stays within reason.
Underbody lighting meets gaming design
When I initially opened the ASUS ROG Strix G, placed it on the table, and turned it on, I was taken back to the year 2003.
To a time when my 14-year-old self was playing Need for Speed Underground on my home computer and marveling at the vehicles’ underbelly illumination in Riders on the Storm.
The ROG Strix G boasts a lot more RGB-illumination than its predecessor, making it one of the finest laptops under 1200 dollars.
The strip wraps over the whole front and both sides.
In other aspects, the gaming laptop shouts gaming: brushed metal on the outside and a carbon appearance on the inside.
The predecessor’s slightly out of place camouflage appearance has been replaced with a more elegant grey.
The lid, by the way, has a huge and lighted ROG logo. In addition, the lid no longer covers the full surface.
A ribbed, air-intake neck spoiler now lies on the rear, ensuring that certain connections may be relocated.
Also noteworthy is the removal of the shiny branding under the display, which has been replaced with a subtle ROG-STRIX typography.
The broad bezel has been constructed asymmetrically and features a gap through which you can always check whether all wires on the rear are still connected correctly, therefore it’s relocated to the left.
The remaining frames on the sides of the display are beautiful and slim.
The camera location issue is easily addressed by ASUS, who just leaves it out.
On the right side, there is an orange keystone.
In the meanwhile, the keyboard has a standard notebook layout:
A few special keys, such as the power key, are located above the F keys, the space bar is asymmetrical, and the gnome-like arrow keys have been relocated.
Overall, the ROG Strix G looks like a true gaming laptop and performs well, earning it a spot among the best laptops under 1200 dollars.
The underbody lighting will undoubtedly appeal to certain age groups.
However, I instantly think of many BMW motorbikes when I see an asymmetrical design.
Humans – and myself included – consider symmetry to be a beautiful trait, thus I’ve struggled to comprehend this design concept until now.
When compared to the best laptops under $1200, it has good processor and a robust keyboard.
Aside from the metal top, the gaming notebook’s shell is entirely comprised of plastic.
The craftsmanship is excellent: the gaps are equal, there are no rough edges, and pushing the top and keyboard in is tough.
When you softly touch the bottom with your flat palm, though, the chassis seems a little shaky.
The display hinges seem to be rather forceful at first glance, but they really keep the display securely in place.
The keyboard is excellent.
Unlike the Schenker XMG NEO 15, ASUS does not have mechanical keys, yet the typing experience is still pleasant.
Longer texts may be typed without difficulty on the gaming notepad.
Because so few people use the arrow keys, the dwarf’s size is likewise insignificant.
A second key, located adjacent to the multimedia keys, is used to launch the ASUS software.
The touchpad has been shifted to the left, and two mouse replacement keys with a nice stroke and pressure point have been added.
On a 17-inch tablet, the pad might have been a little bigger.
Overall, the ROG Strix G is well-made, but at a price of over $1200, I would have like more metal inserts.
More essential links are displaced by the Keystone.
While the ROG Strix Scar II still had a lot of connectors, the ROG Strix G doesn’t.
However, there are now connections on the rear as well.
The keystone connection takes up the whole right side of the board. Three USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A ports, as well as a combo jack connection, are located on the left side.
All of the other ports have been relocated to the back.
A USB 3.1 Gen2 Type C, HDMI, LAN, and power connector are all available.
However, I would have liked to see a 17-inch tablet with a few extra ports.
The predecessor, for example, had an additional USB Type A and Mini DisplayPort port, as well as an SD card reader.
After all, the Type C connection supports DisplayPort.
In comparison to the best laptops under 1200 dollars, it has a fast 17-inch display with decent color space coverage.
The 17-inch FHD display on the ROG Strix G is impressive.
Because the display is matte, it does not reflect light.
As a result, you might utilize it both indoors and outside. Because it’s an IPS screen, the viewing angles are quite consistent, and the colors are rich and natural.
With 96 percent of sRGB, 68 percent of NTSC, and 74 percent of AdobeRGB, the color coverage is comparable to that of its predecessor and most gaming laptops.
The display is quick and suited for reaction-intensive shooters like CS:GO or Fortnite, as well as MOBA games like League of Legends or DOTA, as compared to the best laptops under 1200 Dollar with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. During gameplay, we didn’t detect any ripping or ghosting.
The display’s brightness and lighting are excellent.
With 296 cd/m2, the display is brightest in the top middle.
In the two lowest corners, the brightness decreases slightly.
However, this isn’t something you’ll notice in daily life, and it’s just barely noticeable on a white backdrop.
With 273 cd/m2, the average brightness is adequate.
After the calibration, the colors seem to be a little warmer, and the brightness lowers somewhat. The color profile may be downloaded here.
Overall, the display offers an excellent first impression and impresses with superb color accuracy, equally thin frames, and butter-soft content presentation.
Overdosing with bloatware, McAfee, and ASUS software
The gaming laptop ex works is running Windows 10 in its 64-bit edition.
Candy Crush, Skype, Spotify, and Xing are just a few examples of the typical useless software overload.
In my instance, Spotify does have a legal right to exist.
Of course, the ever-popular McAfee is also in the game, and it “animates” unsuspecting users with pop-ups urging them to upgrade to the full version.
There’s also a bunch of ASUS software.
You can monitor your network and prioritize apps using GameFirst V.
You may customize your display settings using Gamevisual.
There’s also ROG MacroKey, which lets you build macros, which is a pleasant surprise.
You have three profiles to choose from, each with five macros.
You may modify the audio parameters and start recording using Sonic Studio III.
Armoury Crate is the most recent and complete software.
The software is pretty complicated, and it already sounds like a lootbox.
The software is fairly lavish, and it goes well with the laptop.
It doesn’t seem to be very apparent at first, but with a little trial and error, it will become evident.
You may go through the submenus using the tabs on the left side.
Everything is included, from RGB lighting settings to multiple gaming profiles, suggested programs for download, and a separate mailbox.
When you put the keystone into the notebook, the software begins automatically.
In the widest sense, this is an NFC key.
It allows you to connect the software’s settings directly.
Shadow Drive is another feature.
When the keystone is put into the notebook, it creates a hidden partition that can only be accessed when the notebook is hooked into the keystone.
If you have an ASUS account, this will work.
There’s nothing wrong with the concept of a hidden memory in and of itself.
However, the use of the keystone, which you should always have with you, seems dubious to me.
After removing all of the software, you’ll have 438 GB left on the 512 GB SSD. The good news is that, in comparison to other best laptops under 1200 dollars, you can totally erase any bloatware and scareware.
I’d also like a full curriculum rather than five separate ones.
High-performance features include turbo mode.
The ROG Strix G features the same hardware as its predecessor, with the exception of the Core i7-9750H processor:
16 GB DDR4 RAM and an RTX 2070 graphics card The Core i7-8750H was still present in the predecessor.
In a gaming laptop, however, the CPU is seldom the component that really restricts the frame rate.
There are three separate performance modes on the Strix G:
Turbo, Power, and Quiet.
In Ghost Recon Wildlands, we ran all of the benchmarks in quiet mode to see how performance varies with turbo mode.
We looked at current AAA games in Full HD (1920x1080px) and WQHD (2560x1440px), as well as UHD titles with the third highest detail level (3840x2160px).
It doesn’t state “medium details” since “very high” isn’t the highest detail setting in many games anymore.
If a “ultra” or “very high” option is still available, it’s also a good idea to state in the press that the game still runs at a high FPS on “high,” even if “high” is far from the maximum details.
The car industry expresses its condolences. We’d prefer not speak about raytracing at all – or at least not for another two paragraphs.
The ROG Strix G arrives in FHD in a similar location as its predecessor.
This is unsurprising given the near-identical equipment. In FHD, FPS ranges from 51 (Ghost Recon Wildlands) to 100 (Rise of the Tomb Raider).
The typical frame rate in WQHD is between 42 and 76 frames per second.
As a result, in WQHD, you should choose high details. If you wish to take use of the 144 Hz display, this is also feasible in FHD depending on the game.
Of course, this also applies to UHD.
At the third highest detail level, the Strix G averages 36 to 55 frames per second.
In the end, the performance is enough for FHD at very high resolution and WQHD at high details.
If you wish to play in UHD, you’ll need to lower the detail or FPS requirements drastically, depending on the game’s age and hardware requirements. You may use the turbo if you want to increase your FPS.
As a consequence, the Strix G in Ghost Recon Wildlands achieves 5-10% higher performance, depending on resolution, while delivering the same results as its predecessor.
The increase isn’t as substantial as it is in the Schenker XMG NEO 15, for example (test).
We also examined how Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s performance is affected by enabled DLSS and raytracing shadows in contrast to the best laptops under $1200.
In FHD, the average frame rate lowers by over 35%, from 81 to 53 frames per second. By around 27% in WQHD, from 55 to 40 FPS. Thanks to DLSS, the average frame rate in UHD jumps from 38 to 40 frames per second.
Overall, the performance is comparable to similarly equipped devices and somewhat better than laptops equipped with the RTX 2070 Max-Q, such as the Lenovo Legion Y740 (test) or the Gigabyte AERO 15 OLED (test).
You may get the values from the diagrams as usual.
It’s evident from there that ASUS utilizes a somewhat sluggish SSD in the Strix G.
This was also true for the predecessor, which was also our best laptop under $1200.
At a display brightness of 200 cd/m2 or 86 percent brightness, the gaming laptop gets a runtime of little over 2.5 hours with the 66 Wh battery.
This is a great deal. However, the findings are rarely applicable to daily usage since, on the one hand, gaming reduces battery life to a maximum of one hour, and on the other hand, performance in battery mode on any gaming laptop plummets dramatically.
Under excessive load, there is no throttling, but there is high-pitched whistling.
The ROG Strix G has ample room for a suitable cooling system, with a 17′′ form factor and a height of slightly over 2.6 cm.
As a result, temperature control should be trouble-free even when the system is under stress — or should it?
The CPU and GPU temperatures in idle mode are 52°C and 44°C, respectively.
In the AIDA64 system stability test, the CPU averages 77°C and the graphics card 75°C.
There is no throttling.
There is a turbo mode on the ROG Strix G.
When this option is enabled, the CPU and GPU temperatures in the stress test drop to an average of 84 and 76 degrees, which is still acceptable for a second-best laptop under $1200.
I played a round of The Witcher 3 in UHD resolution with medium details to assess the gaming performance.
The CPU averages 79°C in normal mode, whereas the RTX 2070 averages 77°C.
There is no throttling and the temperatures are not crucial. In turbo mode, the fans spin at maximum speed, and the temperatures plummet to an average of 74°C and 68°C.
As a result of the higher structure, the notebook demonstrates its benefit in terms of heat buildup.
There is no throttling, despite the high level of performance.
Furthermore, the gaming laptop does not overheat anyplace on the casing. It can still be caressed and rested on the lap without difficulty.
During gaming, the gaming notebook gets audible.
Normal mode is still okay, however turbo mode produces an extremely high-pitched whistling.
As always, I advise using a closed gaming headset.
When the laptop is put on a firm surface, the sound from the built-in loudspeakers is fairly nice, and the subwoofer is also detectable.
Hardware is readily accessible, however there isn’t a spare space for upgrades.
Even with a huge 17-inch device, there is typically some room in the casing.
At least, that’s how the ROG Strix Scar II worked, and it was likewise simple to open.
But it was afterwards that I became disillusioned. There were no open spaces available.
Existing ones could only be replaced by new ones that were superior. Unfortunately, the ROG Strix G suffers from the same flaw:
Except for the two on the front corners, the eleven screws on the bottom may be simply removed.
These two screws are held in place by holders on the casing.
The fairing may be simply removed with a little effort. Because the RGB lights on the bottom is linked to the mainboard, some care is necessary.
You may access the SSD, HDD, SK Hynix RAM, and the battery once you’re inside.
The cooling system, which includes two radial fans, is also visible. There is one advantage over the other best laptops under 1200 dollars in our test: the SSD has a heat sink in the shape of a metal plate.
Despite having enough free space in the case, there is no free port.
It’s a shame. As a result, if you want more memory or RAM, you must replace the present hardware.
After all, if the battery’s capacity degrades over time, it can be readily changed.
Conclusion: In the best laptops under 1200 dollars, the finest price-performance ratio is found.
Are you a fan of Need for Speed Underground and eye-catching design?
The ASUS ROG Strix G is the gadget for you.
With a gaming laptop, you can’t be more noticeable.
Brushed aluminum, carbon texturing, and dense RGB underfloor lighting will undoubtedly draw admiring glances across the lecture hall.
However, the laptop is only suited for high-end shizzle presentations in the conference room if certain conditions are met.
Or, to put it another way, whether the beamer can be synced with ASUS AURA SYNC.
The ROG Strix G has superb craftsmanship, but I’d like to see more metal in the casing.
While compared to other best laptops under 1200 dollars, the keyboard has a nice typing experience and may also persuade when typing lengthier messages.
The laptop and a snap hook with the ROG Keystone are included in the shipping.
This is an NFC key that allows you to access the ASUS software’s Shadow Drive and connection settings if you have an ASUS account.
There are five distinct applications pre-installed, by the way.
McAfee is preinstalled in addition to the usual bloatware.
The Keystone connection also ensures that, despite its 17-inch size, the ROG Strix G has just a few connectors compared to its predecessor and comparable 17-inch devices.
A Mini DisplayPort port and an SD card reader aren’t available (anymore).
The matte 144 Hz display with IPS screen impresses with superb color representation (74 percent AdobeRGB) and butter-soft display, demonstrating why this model is ranked second among the best laptops under $1200.
In the gaming notebook, there are no issues with ripping or ghosting.
ASUS also makes no sacrifices when it comes to upgrading options:
Although there is room in the conveniently accessible chassis, the Strix G lacks free ports.
The battery, RAM, HDD, and SSD can all be swapped out.
In the case of the latter, upgrading to a faster and bigger brand SSD might pay off in the long term.
With an RTX 2070, Core i7-9750H, and 16 GB DDR4 RAM, the ASUS ROG Strix G outperforms its predecessor and similarly equipped laptops.
In current Triple A titles, the performance is best suited for FHD at extremely high details, WQHD at high details, and UHD at low details.
You may increase power by 5-10% in Turbo mode to accommodate greater heat.
The CPU, graphics card, and casing, on the other hand, do not become too hot.
It’s worth noting that throttling isn’t used.
The turbo setting is unfortunately accompanied with a high-pitched whistling.
However, the built-in loudspeakers provide a powerful sound.
As a result, the ASUS ROG Strix G is a good gaming second best laptop for under 1200 dollars, with a few compromises that either party may easily ignore.
Dell G5 15 is ranked third.
- Stylish, high-end design
- Long-lasting battery
- Graphics performance is excellent.
- Resolution: Full HD
- There is just a 12-month warranty.
In the category of best laptops around $1200, it comes in third place.
The Dell G5 15 is a high-performance gaming laptop with RTX graphics.
The G5 is as unobtrusive as a typical office PC from the outside. In the test, you can see whether the gadget is believable.
The Dell G5 15 is a gaming laptop in the mid-range.
It makes up for its lack of optical shine with its price-performance ratio.
Below you’ll find out what tradeoffs you’ll have to make in exchange for the relatively cheap price.
On the Dell website, the G5 15 5590 is available in five distinct configurations. We evaluated the cheapest model with a modern RTX graphics card and have included the essential specs below for a quick overview of our third place finisher in the best laptops under 1200 Dollar category.
- Intel Core i7-8750H processor
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card
- 8 GB DDR4 Dual Channel working memory
- 128 GB NVMe-SSD + 1 TB HDD for mass storage
- Full-HD, IPS, 60 Hertz, 15.6-inch display
- Weight: 2.8 kg plus 0.7 kg for the power supply
Dell G5 15 pricing and categorization
At the time of the online test, our Dell G5 15 cost over $1,240.
The lowest option costs less than 900 dollars, but it includes Nvidia’s GTX 1050 Ti, a 2017 graphics card.
The same may be said for the model with larger memory that costs less than 1.000 dollars.
There is no longer a mechanical hard disk for roughly 1,560 dollars, but instead 16 gigabytes of RAM and a 512 GB SSD.
However, Dell also sells an RTX 2070 Max-Q option for $1,999.
With its many configurations, Dell serves the entry level, mid-range, and higher mid-range markets with the G5 15.
On their own website, newer versions with the ninth Intel Core i7 generation and even 144 hertz screens with G-Sync are now available for a little extra money.
While the upgraded CPU doesn’t give much in the way of performance, the G-Sync display may be worth it for some. Not what you’d expect from one of the finest laptops around $1200.
The Dell G5 15’s design
Dell’s gaming laptop does not seem to be very impressive.
It might easily be mistaken for an outdated business notebook.
The casing is so inconspicuous that it already seems a little too plain.
Only the blue highlights on the logo, the trackpad, and the heatpipes can be seen up close.
The bottom cover, as well as the screen frame and lid, are composed of black, somewhat flexible plastic.
On the other hand, the black top casing and display hinge are composed of aluminum and are rather torsionally rigid.
The Dell G5 is a big huge chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky hefty chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky chunky
On the keyboard, we have nothing to complain about. It has a medium-length stroke and provides nice typing feel.
There is also a number pad.
The plastic trackpad, on the other hand, did not persuade us.
When playing games, the vast majority of users will attach an extra gaming mouse.
Dell has spared no expense when it comes to connectivity.
On the left, there’s a USB 3.0 connector, a headphone jack, and a Thunderbolt 3 USB C port.
A full-fledged SD slot, as well as another USB 3.0 connector, can be found on the right.
There’s another USB port on the rear, as well as Ethernet, HDMI, Mini-DisplayPort, and a charging jack.
The Dell G5 15’s display
The laptop’s matt 15.6-inch display features a Full-HD resolution and is matte.
Because it’s an IPS panel, it has a lot of contrast, but the color reproduction is a little wrong.
Furthermore, the screen isn’t exceptionally bright, which is especially visible while playing gloomy game scenarios during the day. The refresh rate is merely 60 hertz and G-Sync is not supported.
However, the graphic card in our test device surpasses this frame rate in several games, resulting in unrestricted visual defects, which is unusual for a third-best laptop under $1200.
The performance and fan of the Dell G5 15
For current games in Full-HD, the Intel Core i7 of the eighth generation and the current RTX 2060 are an excellent match.
On Ultra, all of the games tested ran without a hitch.
The laptop averaged 90 frames per second in Rise of the Tomb Raider, while Doom from 2016 operated at the maximum visual settings, averaging over 100 frames per second.
The same can be said about Fortnite.
In the test, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Assassin’s Creed Origins ran at over 60 frames per second on Ultra.
Although the built-in graphics unit technically supports raytracing, Metro’s benchmarks already show that it does not.
With active raytracing, Exodus and Shadow of the Tomb Raider constantly crashed.
Even the more powerful RTX 2070 Max-Q has trouble calculating precise shadow and light effects in Full-HD.
Gaming benchmarks on the Dell G5 15 5590
The gaming laptop gets quite hot at the keyboard and a little above it when it’s under stress, and the fans become fairly noisy.
The fans are typically turned off while the computer is inactive, but they will sometimes, for no apparent reason, switch on quite loudly for a little period of time.
By the way, the read and write speeds of the NVMe SSD are somewhat modest, at roughly 1,160 and 530 megabytes per second, respectively, when compared to the best laptops under 1200 dollars.
Fortunately, storage devices such as RAM, SSDs, and HDDs can be readily swapped out and improved.
However, take in mind that both primary memory slots are now filled with ex works.
The results of regular benchmarks are shown below.
| Benchmark | Points |
|---|---|
| R20 Cinebench | Points: 2.611 |
| PCMark 10 | 5.059 out of 10 |
| 3DMark Time Spy is a game developed by 3DMark. | Points: 5.782 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike is a game developed by 3DMark. | Points: 13.224 |
| Orange Room VRMark | Points: 6.833 |
The Dell G5 15’s battery life and multimedia
In everyday usage, the battery life is surprisingly good for a smartphone with such energy-hungry components.
In comparison to other best laptops under 1200 dollars, the Dell G5 15 lasted roughly eight hours without a power outlet in normal usage with 50 percent brightness and enabled energy conservation mode.
We used a variety of methods to access websites, write papers, watch films, and update tables.
You may even play on the laptop without a power adapter for more than two hours till the battery runs out without any issues.
The built-in camera, which is positioned above the screen and has an excellent quality, is positioned above the screen.
It is unquestionably appropriate for video conferencing. Two speakers are also present, and they are situated on the case’s front outside border.
The sound is OK, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Because of the somewhat audible fan noise, we would still suggest using headphones when gaming.
Conclusion: For the third best laptop under $1200, the price-performance ratio is reasonable.
The Dell G5 15 5590 is a high-performance laptop that is very reasonably priced.
The tested arrangement is perfect for today’s games.
It’s also a plus that the battery lasts a long time. You’ll have to compromise on the display and design.
While the latter isn’t very noteworthy, it may be worth the additional cost for those who want the latest versions with G-Sync and 144 Hertz.
The third best laptop under $1200 is a terrific place to be, particularly because it is the most affordable model in our test.
Final Verdict: High-End Best Value Laptops Under $1200
Finally, all of the laptops in our test provide outstanding performance in the area of best laptop under $1200.
The Acer Helios 300 is the finest option if you want the highest performance at the lowest price.
If you’re looking for a solid price-performance ratio, the Asus ROG Strix G is the way to go. It’s a fantastic labtop for around $1200.
The Dell G5 15 is another excellent laptop under $1200 that provides excellent performance at a reasonable price. Because it comes with a 1TB hard drive, it’s ideal for someone who needs a lot of storage.
Overall, the choice of a laptop under $1200 is entirely yours. Only a thorough image of all the items and where they shine is provided.
We continually update this post with the most recent computers, ensuring that you get the greatest deals on the best laptops under $1200.
The “best laptops under $1,100” is a list of the best laptops that are currently available. The list includes laptops from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What laptops have high FPS?
A: The Razer Blade 15 and the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501.
Which laptop has the highest specifications?
A: The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro has the highest specifications of any laptop on Amazon, with a powerful processor and good amount of RAM to work well for almost all computing tasks.
What is the best laptop to get in the $1000 range?
A: This is a highly debated topic. You can read more about it on wikipedia, but in general the most budget-friendly option would be to get an HP Pavilion 10z laptop with Intel UHD Graphics 620 integrated graphics card and 8gb of memory.
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